Coding, or computer programming, is one of the trendiest activities for kids today. Classes, camps, workshops, toys, games, subscription boxes, and more are available to teach your children how to code from an early age. But is coding for kids another fad, or is this a skill worth learning? Discover ten reasons why your kids should learn to code.
1. Simply put: it’s fun
Children learn best through open-ended, creative play. Luckily, the basic coding foundations are easy to absorb through games. Kids can start their coding careers by learning the principle of cause-and-effect, or silly consequences of rules that don’t make sense, through games like Simon Says or Red Light, Green Light. Classrooms have already started using software like Scratch with students as young as 5. Your child doesn’t need to use a computer or know how to type to learn the coding basics!
Older children who have more experience can explore even more ways to have fun. Kids can customize their video game experiences, design their own games, build computer applications, set up websites, and create many other fun digital products once they know a little coding.
2. Encourage perseverance
Coding allows room for endless creativity and unique solutions, but it also requires precision. Children learn to work within a set of rules when they code: if they break a rule, their project won’t work! Coding encourages children to remain resilient and try again when they face a challenge. This perseverance helps kids tackle problems in all parts of their life.
3. Coding can be collaborative
Coding can be an individual or group activity. Young coders may start working on simple, one-person projects, but groups usually tackle more complex projects together. After all, technology companies have large teams of coders who work on apps and software. Group coding lets kids share ideas, help each other, and work towards a larger goal. This teamwork is an important life skill that applies to sports, school, family relationships, and more.
4. Teach computational thinking—for more than just computers!
Computational thinking is a way of thinking which encourages kids to break problems into small parts, find patterns in information, figure out why these patterns happen, and then design steps for problem-solving. Coders go through these steps when writing software, but this analytical problem solving can be applied to many other situations throughout life. Children who learn to code also learn how to solve problems.
5. Coding is a 21st-century skill
Computer science and information technology jobs have seen steady growth for years, and this expansion is expected to continue over the coming decades. Computer skills are also increasingly relevant in other industries, even for jobs that traditionally didn’t use technical tools. Children who know how to code will have an advantage in the tech-based job markets of the future.
6. Coding reinforces other skills
Coding uses, teaches, and reinforces many skills other than simply programming computers. When they learn to code, children also learn skills that help them read, write, type, spell, and solve problems. Learning to code can help a student throughout their educational path.
7. Immediate rewards for hard work
Coding provides instant results! Your child can “run” their program to see their imagination and hard work come alive, right before their eyes.
8. Encourage critical thinking
Coding requires problem-solving skills. Your child might find errors in their coding project or want to transform something average into something amazing. Whether your child is troubleshooting or building something new, computer programming encourages kids to think critically about their work.
9. Build digital literacy
Technology is now firmly a part of daily life. From communication to education, cooking to home improvement, transportation to entertainment, digital tools are everywhere. When children learn to code, they also learn how to interact with the technology around them. Young coders have a basic understanding of how programs and software work, so they will have an easier time adjusting to new tech throughout their lifetime.
10. Expose your kids to something new
Coding can open up a whole new world of experiences for your kids. This skill can help them solve problems, build things, and discover new friends and social groups. Coding is the backbone of video games, apps, smartphones, and other things we love in modern society—your child might love exploring this new realm! Just like you’d let them join a new sports team or try a new kind of art supply, let them see how they like coding.
At Koderon we make learning to code fun, engaging and useful. If you’re interested in a free lesson to get things started then get your kids enrolled here